Stapling machine



May 18 1926.

A. H. MAYNARD STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JI /l} ll/W May 18 1926. 1,584,788

8 A. H. MAYNARD STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 10. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '20 k I 34 x; z I 59 59 wggniw 2.5.1! 11. $2 23 7 '7 5; a v E 8 11,1 "111 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'III Patented May 18 1926.

ARTHUR H. MAYNARD, OF WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 BOSTON WIRE PATENT OFFICE.

STITCHER COMPANY, OF EAST GBEENWICH, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

srnrnme MACHINE.

Application filed June 10, 1922. Serial No. 567,303.

This invention relates to improvements in stapling-machines forv fastening together sheets of paper or the like.

One object of the improvement is to provide a light, compact machine suitable for use as an oflice or desk appliance. Another object of the improvement is to render the device more convenient of operation, m'ore efiicient in use, and proof against derangement or getting out of order.

Another object of the improvement is to provide for the automatic feeding of the staples to the work without liability of their becoming jammed or bent and causing clogging of the machine.

Another object of the improvement is to simplify the mechanism' of the machine. while reducing its costof manufacture and rendering it more staunch and durable in use.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following s ecification which describes a preferred em odiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved stapling-machine showing its upper staplingmember or arm in its normal, raised position to adapt the work to be inserted therebeneath; I

Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of the same taken on a medial, longitudinal plane and illustrating the stapling-arm depressed against the work;

Fig. 3, a front view of the device showing its lower portion partly in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the stapling-arm in its raised position;

Fig. 4, a similar view showing the arm and its staple-driver in depressed position at the finish of the operation ofclinching the staple through the .work;

Fig. 5, a plan view of the stapling-arm showing the rearward end of its staplemagazine partly in section;

Fig. 6, a detailed view of the forward end of the arm showin the guiding-slots for the staple-driver;

Fig. 7, a perspective view of the staplepusher which slides the staples through the magazine, with the impeller-spring for tho pusher indicated by dash lines;

Fig. 8, an enlarged perspective view of the holdingor anchoring-device for the pusher impeller-spring;

Fig. 9, an enlarged cross-sectional View of the staple magazine taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 10, an enlarged perspective view of the lower portion of the staple-driver showmg the manner in. which it engages the top of the staple.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, my improved stapling-machine comprises, in general, a flat base 2 designed to rest on the desk, table or other support,

and an upper stapling-member or arm 3 hinged to the rearward end of the base to adapt it to be pressed down against the work which is placed beneath its forward end. The arm 3 serves as a magazine for holding a supply of wire staples s, and mounted on its forward end is the staple-driving means which cooperate with the clincher-device at the front of the base 2.

For the sake of economy in cost of manufacture and reduction in weight,'the base 2 is preferably constructed from sheet-metal in the form of a flat strip, see Figs. 1,2 and 3. Adjacent its rearward end the strip is cut away or punched out to form a rectangular opening 4 having integral ears 5 projecting from its sides. The ears 5 are ent upwardly'at right-angles to the main strip to provide two parallel spaced-apart hinge-portions, see Fig. 3, adapted to receive the cross-pin 6 which serves as a pivot for the arm 3.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 9, the arm 3 is also preferably constructed of sheetmetal and comprises two opposite parallel side-plates 7 which are held in spaced-apart relation by a plurality of cross-pins or rivets 8. The plates 7 are of angular form in cross-section, having upper, marginal flanges 9 formed by bending over the metal'at rightangles along the top. The edges of the flanges 9 are spaced apart to provide aglot or guideway 10 in which the impeller-spring straddling its top, see Figs. 5 and 9. The

core 15 is constructed from sheet-metal of somewhat lighter stock than that of the side-plates 7, being conveniently formed or struck up in a punch-press. Referring to Fig. 9, the upper portion of the core 15 is of slightly less width than the space between the side-plates 7 of the arm 3, but at the bottom its sides are offset to adapt them to abut the inner faces of the plates. The rivets 8, previously referred to, are inserted through the sides of the arm 3 and through the core or staple-support 15 with an enlarged sleeve or hub 18 surrounding their central portions between the offset sides of the core. The ends of the hub 18 are thus caused to hold the sides of the core or support 15 against the side-plates 7 of the arm 3 so that when the rivets 8 are headed over on their ends, as shown in Fig. 9, the several parts are tied together and braced at the center to provide a staunch, rigid structure. It will also be observed from Fig. 9 that the sides of the upper portion of the core 15 are maintained in s aced relation with the inner faces of the si e-plates 7 of the arm 3 whereby to provide two relatively deep, narrow slots in which the legs of the staples s slide. The top of the core or sup-port 15 is preferably recessed with a concavity 19 extending throughout substantially its whole length, the staples 8 being thus caused to rest on the core at the two outside points 20 only, whereby the frictional resistance to the sliding-movement of the staples is materially reduced. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, three pins or rivets 8 are employed as struts for the side-plates 7 of the arm 3, while a fourth pivot-pin 6, previously mentioned, fits loosely in holes in the side-plates with its ends received in suitable holes in the hinge-ears 5 on the base 2.

At the forward end of the arm 3 are two upright arms 22 formed into al with the side'plates 7. As shown in Fig. 5, the uprights 22 form extensions of the top-flanges 9 on the plates 7, being bent at right-angles 'ject beyond the sides of the forward plate .As shown in these views, the knob 33 has a slightly convex, circular top with a depending skirt or flange 34 overhanging its rim. At the front of the knob the metal of its rim 34 is continued inwardly in a curved strip 35 which is then bent downwardly to form a flat extension or front-plate 36. The extension or plate 36 isadapted to fit against the front face of the driver 30 with the under side of the cap or knob 33 resting on the upper edge of the driver, see Fig. 2. A rivet 37 secures the knob 33 to the driver 30 in this relation and the two parts are thus arranged to operate as a unit. Bent around from the front-plate 36 of the knob 33 are two rearwardly projecting side-strips or wings 38 which are extendedupwardly in the arms 39, see Figs. 1 and 4. The upper ends of the arms 39 abut the under side of the knob 33 and thus serve as a further support or reinforcement for stiffening the whole structure. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 5 that the front-plate 36 and its wings 38 conform to the curved ends of the ears 25 whereby they serve as a guiding means for holding the driver 30 in place on the vertical ways or tracks 26 on which it slides.

The knob 33 is normally held in raised position above the arm 22, to maintain the driver in elevated relation to the staples, by means of a helical spring 40. As shown in thereto and spaced apart at a distance equal Fig. 2, the spring 40 bears on the underside to the width of the slot 10 between the edges of the flanges. The uprights 22 are tied together at the top by a rivet 23 which has an enlarged body or hub 24, see Fig. 2, disposed with its ends abutting th inner faces of the uprights. At the front of the uprights 22 are two ears or extensions 25 bent outwardly at an angle and then curled inwardly at their ends to provide two opposite, vertical ways 'or guiding-tracks 26 on which the staple-driver 30 slides.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 10, the staple-driver 30 consists of a rectangular slide which, to save machining operations, is preferably constructed of two flat, overlying plates 27 and 28 riveted together, as shown in Fig. 10. The forward plate 27 may be made of relatively soft metal, while the rearward plate 28 is of hardened steel and of slightly greater width so that its edges proof the knob 33 and is pocketed in a tube or socket 41. The socket 41 consists simply of a cartridge-shaped shell formed with a flange 42 surrounding its upper rim. It is mounted on the uprights 22 by simply inserting it between the angular extensions or ears 25 with its flange 42 resting on the upper edges thereof. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, one side of the flange 42 is cut away or flattened off at 43 to allow the driver 30 to slide up and down against it. At the bottom of the front-plate 36 of the knob 33 are two lugs or stops 44 bent around at the sides to adapt them to contact with the lower edges of the ears 25 to limit the upward movement of the knob. In this way the knob 33 is prevented from being forced off from its guideways under the action of the spring 40 and the upward stroke of the driver 30 is controlled within defined limits.

The pusher 12 which feeds the staples 8 through the magazine in the arm 3, to bring them successively into position beneath the staple-driver 30, is arranged to slide on the core 15. As shown most clearly in Fig. 7, the pusher 12 is preferably constructed from a strip of relatively thin sheet-metal with its sides bent down to form runners 46 adapted to straddle the core 15 and slide within the side-plates 7 of the arm 3 with the flanges 9 overlying its top. Bent up from the rearward end of the pusher 12 is a T-shaped finger-piece 47 which provides a grip for sliding the pusher back against the force of its impeller-spring 11 whereby it may be withdrawn from the magazine to permit the loading of the latter with staples. The finger-piece 47 also serves as a stop for contacting with the rearward edges of the uprights 22 to limit the forward sliding movement of the pusher under the action of its impeller-spring 11.

Referring to Fig. 2, the impeller-spring 11 consists in a flat strip or ribbon of tempered metal which is wound into a volute coil 48. The outer free end of the spring 11 is attached to the top, of the pusher 12, as shown in Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 6, the pusher is slitted across its top to form two straps 50 which are arched upwardly to permit the end of the spring 11 to be inserted thereunder, as indicated by the dotted lines in this view. The edges of the spring 11 are formed with pairs of opposite notches 51, see Fig. 1, and after the spring has been slipped into place beneath the straps 50 the latter are smashed or flattened down by a blow from a hammer, or in a press, so that the ends of the straps will engage with the notches, as shown in section in Fig. 5. In

this manner the end of the spring 11 is securely anchored to the pusher 12 without the use of pins, screws, rivets or other separate means.

The coiled end 48 of the spring 11 is held between the uprights 22 on the arm 3 by means of a novel and ingenious form of mounting as next described. Referring to Fig. 8, this mounting or anchorage for the spring 11. comprises simply a hub or barrel 55 formed by bending a strip of sheet-metal into a tube with one end of the strip bisecting its interior in the flat portion 56. The opposite end of the strip is narrowed at 57 by cutting away its sides to form the opposite shoulders 58. The end of the narrowed portion 57 of the strip is spaced slightly apart from the inwardly bent flat portion 56 to provide an opening 59 to allow the en of the spring 11 to be introduced therethrough. Referring to Fig. 2, the inner end of the coil 48 of the spring 11 is folded back on itself at 60 to provide a stop or abutment adapted to seat against the 5 lower edge of the fiat, diametrically-disposed strip 56. The coil 48 is thus held on the hub 55 with its end abutment 60 anchored under the edge of the strip 56, and being thus maintained under tension it will normally tend to wind itself up.

Referring to Fig. 1, the hub 55 is held in notches on the forward edges of the uprights 22 on the arm 3. Each upright is notched with a stepped opening 62 forming a recess with-a shoulder 63 against which the cross-strip 56 in the hub 55 bears, and a deeper, quadrant-shaped cut 64 in which the under curved side of the hub seats. The narrowed portion 57 of the hub 55 is re ceived in the space between the inner faces of the uprights 22 with its shoulders 58 abutting the edges 65 of the notches 62. In this manner the hub 55 is securely held in place in the notches 62 under the pull on the free end of the spring 11, while also being prevented from turni 1g so that the spring is maintained under tension to adapt it to wind itself up to draw the pusher 12 alongthe arm 3. v

As before mentioned, the clincher-means or anvil for bending over the legs of the staples s is located at the forward end of the base 2. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the anvil 70 may consist of a block of hardened metal inserted in a slot or opening 71 in the base 2 and provided with end abutments or flanges 7 2'for holding it. in place. The upper face of the anvil 70 is formed with grooves 73 for receiving the legs of the staples 8, see Fig. 4, and the bottoms of the grooves are. preferably of arcuate shape whereby they tend to bend the legs of the staples inwardly toward each other while forcing their points upwardly to set the wire to insure a firm. clinch.

The arm 3 is maintained normally in its raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of a fiat spring 75 secured to the base 2. Referring to Fig. '2, a stud or projection 7 6 is struck up from the top of the base 2 by indenting its underside at 7 7 The projection 76 serves as an anchorage for the end of the spring 75 which is pierced with a hole 78 for receiving the proyection. From this anchorage the spring 75 extends in under the pivot-pin 6, the latter being provided with a shouldered groove 79 on its periphery with which the edges of the spring engage. The spring 75 thus has an added function to restrain the pin 6 from axial movement to hold it in place in the hinge-ears 5 while permitting 1ts convenient removal when required. The spring 75 is bent upwardly to adapt its free end to rest on the to of the central hub 18 of the end rivet 8 which extends between the side-plates 7 of the arm 3. The tension of the spring 75 causes it to bear on the pin 6 to exert a downward pressure on the rivet 8 to tilt the forward end of the arm 3 upwardly until its rearward end strikes the top of the base 2, as shown in Fig. 1. When the arm 3 is pressed downwardly the spring 7 5 flexes between its terminals, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having now described in detail the preferred structure and. arrangement of the parts of my improved device its method of operation will next be explained: The staples s for use in the machine are made from relatively fine wire bent into U-shape of a width to adapt them to straddle the core 15 in the magazine on the arm 3. Staples of this type form a well known commodity and are usually put up in commercial packages or sticks as they are termed. Each package or stick contains a large number of staples, in some cases just sufficient staples for one loading of the magazine, which are assembled on a strip of wood or metal and held in place by a binder of paper, cord, or a metal strap. A preferred form of stick consists of a thin metal strip bent into a rectangular tube with the staples straddling its sides and held in alinement by a metal band extending along its top. In charging or loading the machine the end of the stick is rested on the end of the core 15 which is provided with a tab or tail 80 projecting rearwardly from the end of the arm 3. The tie or strap which holds the staples on the stick is released and the staples may then be slid into the magazine; it being understood, of course, that the staple-pusher 12 is first removed from the magazine by sliding it rearwardly off from the core 15.

After the magazine has been charged with the staples s the pusher 12 is replaced in its rearward end by inserting it under the flanges 9 on the side-plates 7 of the arm 3 with its runners 46 straddling the core 15, see Figs. 2 and 5. In applying the pusher 12 to the magazine its impeller-spring 11 is drawn back against the inherent tension of the coil 48 so that the latter will have a constant tendency to draw the pusher forward on the arm 3. The pusher 12 is thus caused to force the row of staples 8 forward in the magazine until the foremost one brings up against the bent-over ends of the side-plates 7 which form the grooves 32 on the arm 3, see Figs. 3 and 6. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2 and 5 that the staples s slide on the core 15 under the overlying side flanges 9, whereby they are prevented from rising up out of alinement or becoming displaced from position.

To insert a staple through the work the sheets or pages p to be fastened together are placed above the anvil on the base 2, see Fig. 2, and the operator then presses down on the knob 33. The spring which normally holds the arm 3 raised above the base 2 has considerably less tension than the spring 40 under the knob 33 so that the first pressure on the knob will carry the arm down against the sheets? to hold them in place while the staple is being applied thereto. After the arm 3 has been carried down against the work in this manner the continued pressure on the knob 33 will cause the driver 30 to slide downwardly on its tracks or guideways 26 to act on the staple s. Normally the staple-driver 30 is held in elevated position by the spring 40, with its lower recessed edge just above the top of the leading staple s, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As the driver 30 slides downwardly its lower edge engages the top of the staple s in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10. The staple will thus be forced downwardly with its legs guided in the slots or grooves 32 between the forward edges of the sides of the core 15 and the bent-over ends of the side-plates 7, see Figs. 2, 3' and 6. The legs of the staple s will be driven through the several thicknesses of paper 2, and impinging upon the bottom of the grooves 73 in the top of the anvil 70 will be bent inwardly and clinched over as shown in Fig. 4. After the staple has been driven through the work and clinched against the underside thereof in this manner the knob 33 is released and its spring 40 returns it to raised position while the arm 3 is also elevated by the spring 75, the part-s being thus returned to first position, as shown in Fig. 1. 7 As the lower edge of the staple-driver 30 is elevated above the top of the core 15 the stops 44 on the plate 36 of the knob 33 strike against the lower edges of the cars 25 to prevent its further movement. Immediately the driver 30 is raised to this position the pusher 12 is drawn forward under the tension of its spring 11 to push the staples forward to bring the next leading one under the edge of the driver in position to be driven through the work at the next operation. 'In this way the staples are successively fed forward after each stroke of the driver so that the feed is automatic and continuous until the supply of staples in the magazine is exhausted. After the last staple has been used the pusher 12 is drawn back to the end of the arm 3 and lifted out of its guideway, when a new charge of staples may he slid into the magazine in the manner as previously explained.

It will be observed that my invention provides a particularly light-weight, simple, compact and etlicient device which is convenient and durable in use for the purpose specified. My improved machine may be constructed from sheet-metal stampings, which provides for economy in cost of manufacture; and the elimination of machined parts, such as screws, studs and the like,

further reduces the manufacturing cost. Moreover, the parts of the device are more easily and quickly assembled and less liable to derangement or getting out of order.

\Vhile I have herein illustrated and de of a staple-carrying arm having divergent ears at its forward end, a socket inserted between said ears to seat thereagainst, a staple-driver slidably mounted on the arm at the front of the socket and bearing thereagainst to hold said socket in place between the ears on the arm, and a spring pocketed in said socket and arranged to act on the driver to maintain the latter in raised position while adapting it to be slid downwardly to operate on the staples.

2. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above the'base and comprising side-plates having parallel uprights at their ends with ears projecting forwardly therefrom and diverging outwardly at an angle, a socket seated in the V-shaped opening between the ears on the upright, a staple-driver mounted to slide on the arm and arranged to bear against the socket to hold it in place between the ears thereof, a knob at the upper end of the driver, and a spring pocketed in the socket and acting against the knob to maintain the driver in raised position.

3. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above the base and provided withparallel s aced-apart uprightsat its end, said uprig ts having for wardly extending ears provided with opposite vertical guideways, a staple-driver slidable on said guideways, a knob fastened to the upper end of the driver, a socket fitted between the uprights and provided with a flange seated against their upper edges to hold it in place thereon, and a spring pocketed in the socket to bear against the knob to maintain the driver in raised position.

4. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above the base and provided with spaced-apart uprights having ears extending forwardly therefrom and bent around at their ends to form opposite vertical guideways, a staple-driver slidably mounted'on said guideways, a socket held between the ears with the driver bearing against its side to retain it in place, and a spring pocketed in said socket and adapted to act on the driver to maintain it in raised position.

5. In a stapling-machine, the combination ofa base, an arm mounted above the base and having spaced-apart uprights formed with ears extending forwardly therefrom and bent around at the ends to provide opposite vertical guideways, a staple-driver aving grooved edges adapted to slide on said guideways, and a knob having a support fastened to the front of the driver with wings extending from the sides thereof to overlap the guideways' to retain the driver in place thereon.

6. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above the base and having spaced-apart uprights formed with ears extending forwardly therefrom and bent around at the ends to provide opposite vertical guideways, a staple-driver having grooved ed es adapted to slide on said guideways, a nob having a support fastened to the front of the driver and formed with' extensions overlapping the guideways, and lugs at the bottom of the support bent around to engage the lower edges of the ears on the uprights to limit the upward sliding movement of the driver.

7.In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above-the base and provided with vertical guideways, a driver slidable on said guideways, and a knob for operating the driver, said knob constructed of sheet-metal with a flanged top having an extension bent inwardly and then downwardly to abut the face of the driver with wings bent around from thesides thereof and extended upwardly beneath the top of the knob to provide a reinforcement therefor.

8. In astapling-machine, the combination of a base, an arm mounted above the base, a staple-driver slidably mounted on the arm, and a knob constructed of sheet-metal with a substantially flat top formed with an extension bent inwardly. from its edge and then downwardly in a front plate adapted to overlie the face of the driver to be fastened thereto and side wings bent at right angles to the front plate and extended upwardly in arms abutting the underside of the knob to reinforce the structure.

9. In a stapling-machine; the combination of a base, a staple-carrying arm comprisin opposite sheet-metal side-plates provide with inwardly projecting flanges on their upper edges, and a hollow core arranged within the arm in spaced-apart relation to its walls and upper flanges to adapt it to receive the staples in straddled relation thereon and beneath the flanges on the side plat'es'which retain them within thestaplecarrying arm. v v

10. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, a staple-carrying arm comprising opposite sheet-metal side-plates provided with inwardly projectin flanges at the top, a hollow core arrange withln the arm in spaced-apart relation to its inner walls, and a staple usher slidable on the core beneath the si e flanges on the arm which hold it in place on the staple-carrying arm.

11. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, a staple-carrying arm comprising opposite sheet-metal side-plates provided with inwardly projectin flanges at the top, a hollow core arrange within the arm in spaced relation to its sides, and a staple-pusher having runners straddling the core to adapt it to slide thereon beneath the flanges on the side-plates which hold it in place on the staple-carrying arm.

12. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a staple-magazine having opposite side-plates formed with notches in their edges, a-staple-pusherslidable on the maga zine, a flat spring attached at one end to the pusher and havin itsopposite end wound into a volute coi, and a support for the spring comprising ahub extendin axially through the coil with the end of t e latter secured thereto and the ends of the hub engaged with the notches in the side-plates of the magazine. I v

13. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a staple-magazine having opposite uprights provided with stepped notches in their edges, a staple-pusher on the magazine, a volute spring connected to operate the pusher, and means for supporting said spring on the magazine comprising a tubular hub extending axially through the spring and provided with an opening in its side and an inturned portion under which the end of the coil is secured, said 'hub having a narrowed portion adapted to be inserted between the sides of the uprights on the magazine and shoulders engaging the notches thereof to retain the hub in position while holding it from turning.

314. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base, a staple-carrying arm, a pivotpin on which the arm is hinged to the base, and a flat spring secured to the base and extending across the pivot-pin with its outer end acting against the end of the arm to maintain the latter normally raised in tilted position above the base.

15. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base provided with opposite hingeears, a hollow arm arranged between said cars, a pivot-pin extending through the ears and the sides of the arm and provided with a groove on its side, and a flat spring secured at one end to the base and extending upwardly across the pivot-pin with its edges en aging the sides of the groove therein to ho d the pin in place, the outer end of said spring belng arranged to act on the arm to maintain it 1n raised position above the base.

16. In a stapling-machine, the combination of a base provided with opposite hingeears, a hollow arm comprising spaced-apart side-plates arranged between the hinge-ears, rivets for holding the side-plates in spacedapart relation, a pivot-pin extending through the side-plates and hinge-ears, and a fiat spring anchored at one end to the base and extending upwardly between the sides of the arm to bear against the pivot-pin and one of the rivets to cause it to be flexed to normally maintain the arm in raised position above the base.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR H. MAYNARD. 

